Apparatus for purifying water.



PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. H. MODONALD. APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING- WATER.

APPLICATION FILED DEQ.21, 1900.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I Q mm Suoenioz.

PATENTBD NOV. 21, 1905.

J. H. MGDONALD. APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1900.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

JOSEPH H. MCDONALD, NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21-, 1905.

Application filed December 1, 1900. Serial No. 40,683.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH H. MCDONALD, of New York, in the county ofNew York, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Purifying ater, of which the following isa complete specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

The object of my invention is to produce apparatus for thoroughlypurifying the watersupply of a city, and comprehends means whereby thestate of purification up to the last stage of absolute purity obtainableby filtration may be regulated to suit the requirements of use. Specialprovision is made in my apparatus-not only for varying the means anddegree of filtration, but'also for cleansing parts of the apparatus asrequired without interruption of the flow of filtered-water supply.

It is recognized by scientists to be a fact that the presence ofmicroscopic life in Water constitutes the source of greatest menace tohealth in drinking-water. Filters in general use. especially such as areadapted to aiford considerable delivery of purified water, while adaptedat their best to reduce water to a practically pure state from asanitary standpoint, become, nevertheless, after a short period ofoperation fouled. This condition is due to the fact, Well recognized inthe art, that filtering media become by use inevitably charged with anoffensive slime, which becomes sponge-like and sufficiently porous forthe passage through it of'the water, but which robs the media of their'efiiciency as agencies of filtration. Moreover, the presence thereofconstitutes in itself an additional source of contamination to waterpassing through it. This mass of slime and other offensive matter cannotbe washed out of the filtering material by w ater or air because, beingpermeable to water in the process of filtration, the Washing-water orair employed findslikewise ready passage through it. For that reason Iemploy in my system of water purification means for subjecting thefiltering material to such a degree of heat as will coagulate anddisintegrate the slime and other deleterious material in the filteringmedia, after which it may be readily cleaned by washing. Consequently bythat means I am enabled at regular intervals of any required duration torestore the filtering media of my system absolutely to its initialefiiciency, and thereby to obtain a constant supply of practically pure5 Water.

What constitutes my invention will be hereinafter specified in detail,and succinctly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I illustrate one form of embodiment of myinvention which will afford a means of explication of its principle.

In the drawings, Figure I is a top plan view of my system complete,portions being broken away in order to permit of illustration upon ascale sufiiciently large to be readily legible. Fig. II is a sideelevation of a portion of the filter-battery. Fig. III is an endelevation of the filter-battery shown in Fig. I.

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates a mainsupply-pipe communicating with a source of water-supply for example, areservoir (not illustrated) adapted to afiord a suitable head of water.2 inclicates a main leading therefrom and preferably communicating withbranches 3, 4., and 5, through a four-way fitting 6, the head of eachbranch being controlled by a valve, (indicated by 7, 8, and 9,respectively.) The number of branches is non-essential except in so faras they shall afford independent means of watersupply through or arounda battery or batter'ies of filters. By battery of filters I mean aplurality of individual filters which may be operated as a unit. In theaccompanying drawings I illustrate what may be regarded as a singlebattery of filters or two batteries of filters located upon oppositesides of the branch pipe 4. They constitute a single battery, becausecollectively they may be operated as a unit, while at the same time theyconstitute two batteries, because one set of filters on one side of thebranch i may be in operation while the other set is being cleaned. Inthis connection it may be also specified that any one of the filterscomprehended in the battery or batteries may be shut out of serviceindividually or in connec-' tion with any other or others withoutinterruption of the operation of the remaining filters.

Inasmuch as each filter is essentially identical with every other one,it will be sufficient to describe one for all. Referring, therefore, toFig. III, it is specified that each filter consists of a closed case 10,constructed so as to withstand any pressure that may be put upon themand having a cap 11 secured to the case, as by a crown of bolts orotherwise, which will facilitate the gaining of access to the interiorof the case 10. Each case is divided by transverse or horizontalpartitions 12 and 13,'adapted to confine between them a mass offiltering material 1 1. This material may be of any preferred kind-such,for example, as granulated coke. I do not limit myself to the employmentof any special filtering medium in preference to another. Each case isprovided with an inlet-pipe 16, having a controlling-valve 17. Forconvenience of construction each pair of pipes 16 communicates with aT-fitting 18, through which communication is established, as through acommon supply pipe 19, with the main branch 4. As illustrated, each pipe16 is a supply-pipe and communicates, preferably, with the interior ofits case 10 below the partition 13. With that arrangement adischargepipe 22 leads from the interior of the case 10 above itspartition 12. Consequently water in passing from the supply-pipe 16 toits correlated discharge-pipe 22 must pass through the mass of filteringmaterial 1 1. Each discharge-pipe 22 is provided with acontrolling-valve 23, and each of the pipes 22 between the valve 23 andits case 10 is provided with a valve-controlled steam-pipe 24,communicating with a source ofsteam-supply. (Notillustrated) Eachcase isalso provided, preferably in its bottom, with a valve-controlledwash-out pipe 25. It may be for convenience here specified that byclosing the valves 17 and 23 of any of the cases 10 and by opening thepipes 24 and 25 the filtering material 1 1 of that case may bethoroughly sterilized by heat of the steam from its pipe 24, after whichthe pipe 24 may be closed, and the valve 17 being opened thesteam-treated impurities may be washed out from the mass of filteringmaterial and discharged through the pipe 25. It is in this manner thatthe filtering material may be sterilized and restored to its initialefficiency whenever required. The branch pipes 3 and 5 after passingaround the battery or batteries of filters with which they arerespectively connected through their individual dischargepipes 22preferably meet in a general delivery-pipe 27,conneotion beingpreferably made therewith, as through a T-fitting 28, upon the oppositesides of which the pipes 3 and 5 are, by preference, provided,respectively, with valves 29 and 30.

The foregoing apparatus constitutes one complete form of embodiment ofmy invention, being adapted to afford, through the delivery-pipe 27 aconstant flow of water rendered as pure as filtration can make it. Itwill therefore be in order to specify at this point the operation of somuch of the apparatus as is above described, with the exception of somuch of the mode of operation as has been already explained. Proceedingaccordingly, it may be stated that ordinarily when the apparatus is inoperation as awhole the valves 7 and 9 are closed and the valves 8, 30,and 29 are kept open. The end of the pipe 4 being closed, water from themain 1 passing into the branch 4 is thence distributed through thevarious filters, each of which through its respective pipe 22 dischargesinto its respective branch pipe 3 or 5, whence it issues to thedelivery-pipe 27 and is by it conducted to the different points ofservice along its line. I, however, provide the medial branch pipe 1 inorder that the filters arranged upon opposite sides thereof may beconstituted into independent batteries for alternate operation, wherebyone battery may be cleaned while the other is in operation, and viceversa. It may be readily apprehended that this is entirely feasible,because the capacity of each battery may be increased without limit. Inoperating the system upon the plan last mentioned either of the lateralbatteries by which for convenience the filters upon opposite sides ofthe branch 4 may be designated may be shut out of operation by closingeither the valve 29 or the valve 30 and by closing all of the valves 17when the battery is ready to be sterilized in the manner abovespecified. After the sterilizing treatment the washing of the filteringmaterial in the several cases 10 may be accomplished either by the useof water admitted through the respective pipes 16 or by opening thevalve 9 through the pipe 5. Indeed by alternating the flow backward andforward through the filtering material after it is sterilized the mostcomplete cleansing of each filter is made practicable. It is alsoobvious that after the sterilizing and washing operation a finalpurification or drying of the interior of the filters and theirrespective pipe connections may be made by blowing steam through them.

If the intermediary branch pipe 4 be by manipulation of the valve 8 cutout of service, provision is made for conversion of the pipe 3 or pipe 5into a supply-pipe or a dischargepipe at will, depending upon themanipulation of the valves 7and 9, the opening of the valve 7 and theclosing of the valve 9 rendering the pipe 3, the supply-pipe, and thepipe5 the discharge-pipe, and vice versa. In the presentdescribed modeof operation of my apparatus the outlet-valve of the supply-pipe 29 or30, as the case may be, is closed, that of the discharge-pipe for thetime being remaining open. The result effected is double filtration forthe entire water supply that is conveyed to the delivery-pipe 27.

In addition to means for providing for the sterilizing and cleansing ofthe filters my system provides means for supplying to the delivery-pipe27 from a single point of operation a volume of water direct from themain 1. This would be an obvious advantage in case of the occurrence ofa great confiagration along the line of the pipe 27 when the greatestpossible supply of water regardless of its state of purity would beneeded. For this purpose all that would be necessary to do would be to.close the valve 8 and open the valves 7 and 9, the valves 29 and 30being, as in ordinary operation, open.

What I claim is- 1. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination witha main and a plurality of pipes and means for converting any one of saidpipes into a supply-pipe and another into a discharge-pipe, of a batteryof filters operatively communicating as such therewith respectively.

2. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main and aplurality of pipes and means for converting any one of said pipes into asupplypipe and another into a discharge-pipe, of a battery of filtersoperatively communicating as such therewith respec-. tively, and meansfor shutting the battery as a unit out of service withoutinterruptingthe flow from the main.

3. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main, anintermediary branch pipe, and branch pipes upon opposite sides of saidintermediary branch pipe, valves controlling said several branchesrespectively, two batteries of filters operatively communicating withsaid branches and intermediary respectively, and a delivery-pipe.

4. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main, anintermediary branch pipe, and branch pipes upon opposite sides of saidintermediary branch pipe, valves controlling said several branchesrespectively, two batteries offilters operatively communicating withsaid branches and intermediary respectively, and means for operatingsaid batteries separately or as a unit.

5. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main and aplurality of not less than three branch pipes, of a battery of filtersoperatively communicating with the branch pipes respectively, and means,including a Wash-out pipe in each filter of said battery, forconstituting any branch pipe into a supply-pipe and another into adischarge-pipe at will.

6. In a water-purifying apparatus, the combination with a main and aplurality of pipes and means for converting any one of said pipes into asupply-pipe and another into a dischargepipe, of a battery of filtersand means for throwing the battery as a unit into operativecommunication with said pipes alternatively as set forth.

7. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main and aplurality of pipes and means for converting any one of said pipes into asupply-pipe and another intoa discharge-pipe, of a battery of filtersand means for throwing the battery as a unit into operativecommunication with said pipes alternatively as set forth, and means fordividing said unitary battery of filters into a plurality of batteriesof filters.

8. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main, anintermediary branch pipe, and branch pipes upon opposite sides of saiintermediary branch pipe, valves controlling said several branchesrespectively, two batteries of filters operatively communicating withsaid branches and intermediary respectively and means for operating saidbatteries through communication of the intermediary with the main orindependently of such communication.

9. In a water-purifying apparatus, the combination with a main, aplurality of branch pipes and valves controlling said several branchesrespectively, of a plurality of batteries of filters in operativecommunication with the branch pipes and means for operating saidbatteries independently or successively for the purpose of single ordouble filtration.

10. In a water-purifying apparatus the combination with a main, anintermediary branch pipe, and branch pipes upon opposite sides of saidintermediary pipe, valves controllingsaid several branches respectively,two batteries of filters operatively communicating with said branchesand intermediary, respectively, and means for operating the members ofsaid batteries singly from the intermediary branch or successively fordouble filtration between the lateral branches.

11. In a water purifying apparatus, the combination with a main and aplurality of branches, of a battery of filters in operativecommunication with said branches, a deliverypipe and means for supplyingto the deliverypipe from a single point of operation a volume of waterdirect from the main and around the filters.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH H. MCDONALD.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. TALLMAN, J r., JOHN G. FoLsou.

